Temporary files

[Ryan]

I'm using Windows XP Pro on a PC. My question concerns
temporary files. I use Disk Cleanup to help manage my
hard drive, but know that it does not eliminate all
temporary files. I have one profile used on my computer
and under that profile is Local Settings which has two
folders: TEMP (315 MB) and TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES (12
MB). After running a Disk Cleanup these two folders have
many entries in them. And under the Windows folder is
another TEMP (9 MB) folder which has large numbers of
files.

At one time in the development of Windows the temporary
file was a file that had no value after it was used. All
temporary files were terminated at the close of Windows.
Today that must not be the case. I get the impression
that a "Temporary" file is one that still has
importance. Why else would a Disk Cleanup routine not
eliminate these files?

My questions are:
Are all temporary files able to be deleted with no
adverse effect?
Are all temporary internet files able to be deleted with
no adverse effect?
Why doesn't Disk Cleanup remove these files?
If some temporary files and temporary internet files are
important, are all important?
How can I discern the difference?

 

[Guest]

I had the same question as you and see no info on Microsofts Knowledge base other than running the Disk Cleanup..
I have found on Symantecs page to double click on my computer and in the "Address Field" type %temp% and hit enter..
Do this on each XP profile if you have more than one. I tried just deleting the files that ended in .tmp and left them in the recycle bin. So far NO adverse affects. I did leave the folders and other extentions for safe measure
There is another site that I found that I will provide a link for. It brings up the same directory plus a few more..I wasn't sure on using this method however
Here it is: http://www.personal-computer-tutor.com/deletingtempfiles.ht

And the Symantec site is here: http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/200206101521413

Personally both sites may be correct. But I trust the Symantec one first

IF ANYONE ELSE CARES TO ADD INFO PLEASE DO
As I have a temporary internet files\content.ie5 folder and others that appear when doing %temp% and have not deleted them just in case they are needed..not sure they are as I see I have these elswhere on my C drive

 

[Guest]

Forgot one thing Yes all temporary internet files can be deleted safely thats a fact! Open your browser I will show you..
Hope your using IE Browser.. Ok go to "tools" at the top..."internet options" Look under the "general tab" And look under the "Temporary Internet Files" Delete your cookies here! and click on "delete files" thats your temp. internet files! You can place a check in delete all offline content too! and clcik the ok button. And you can clear your history below too. I do this everyday! All of these things. So yes You can Delete Temp Interent files safely THATS A FOR SURE! But do it from the browser area

Lar

 

[Guest]

Wait so if I delete the files/folders in C:\Documents and
Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp there will be no
adverse effect? And if I delete them from the recycling
bin?

-----Original Message-----
I had the same question as you and see no info on

Microsofts Knowledge base other than running the Disk
Cleanup...

I have found on Symantecs page to double click on my

computer and in the "Address Field" type %temp% and hit
enter...

Do this on each XP profile if you have more than one. I

tried just deleting the files that ended in .tmp and left
them in the recycle bin. So far NO adverse affects. I
did leave the folders and other extentions for safe
measure.

There is another site that I found that I will provide a

link for. It brings up the same directory plus a few
more..I wasn't sure on using this method however.

Here it is: http://www.personal-computer- tutor.com/deletingtempfiles.htm

And the Symantec site is here: http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2
002061015214139

Personally both sites may be correct. But I trust the Symantec one first.

IF ANYONE ELSE CARES TO ADD INFO PLEASE DO!
As I have a temporary internet files\content.ie5

folder and others that appear when doing %temp% and
have not deleted them just in case they are needed..not
sure they are as I see I have these elswhere on my C
drive.

 

[Ryan]

I found the reference to Linda's Computer Stop and
followed her advice in setting up an icon on the desktop
to eliminate temporary files. The process left over 20,
but deleted over 100. Even with this removal, there are
lots of files still in the folders under Temp. I can
only guess they are not really temporary files. They
have extensions like .bmp, .txt, .dll, .log, .ini, .exe.

-----Original Message-----
Forgot one thing Yes all temporary internet files can be

deleted safely thats a fact! Open your browser I will
show you...

Hope your using IE Browser.. Ok go to "tools" at the

top..."internet options" Look under the "general tab" And
look under the "Temporary Internet Files" Delete your
cookies here! and click on "delete files" thats your
temp. internet files! You can place a check in delete all
offline content too! and clcik the ok button. And you can
clear your history below too. I do this everyday! All of
these things. So yes You can Delete Temp Interent files
safely THATS A FOR SURE! But do it from the browser area.

 

[Guest]

Give me the patch to the Temp File your now talking about..